Ghana Creates Fast-Track Courts for Corruption and Mining

Ghana is taking a bold step to hold corrupt officials and illegal miners accountable with a new fast-track court system designed to deliver swift justice.

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie officially established the Specialised High Court Division this week, creating a dedicated judicial pathway for cases that matter most to Ghanaians. The courts will handle corruption cases, illegal mining prosecutions, cybersecurity crimes, and efforts to recover stolen state assets.

The timing couldn't be more critical. Illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, has polluted major rivers and threatens Ghana's water security. Environmental experts warn the damage poses an existential crisis, yet many cases have languished in an overburdened court system for years.

The new courts will hear cases from Auditor-General reports, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, and violations of mining laws. They'll also tackle organized crime cases involving drugs and cybersecurity offenses, creating accountability across multiple fronts.

To support the increased workload, the Chief Justice extended High Court hours from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm on weekdays. The change gives legal practitioners and citizens more flexibility while helping courts manage higher caseloads without delays.

The Ripple Effect

This judicial reform addresses a fundamental challenge in fighting corruption: slow justice often feels like no justice at all. By creating specialized courts staffed with dedicated judges, Ghana is showing that environmental crimes and financial wrongdoing will face real consequences.

The expanded court hours also signal something deeper. When a justice system adapts to serve people better, it strengthens public trust in institutions that hold power accountable.

For communities living with polluted water and the fallout from corruption, this reform offers something precious: hope that the system can work for them, not just against them.

Ghana's approach could become a model for other nations struggling to balance judicial backlogs with urgent public interest cases that demand swift resolution.